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Photographic 
.Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTFR.N.Y.  14S80 

(7^«)  873-4503 


^ 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/iCIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Tschnical  and  Bibliographic  Notaa/Notaa  tacliniquas  at  bibliographiquaa 


Tha  Instituta  has  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  bast 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturas  of  this 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographically  uniqua. 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagas  in  tha 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  changa 
tha  usual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chackad  balow. 


D 


Colourad  covars/ 
Couvartura  da  coulaur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couvarture  andommagie 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^  et/ou  pellicula 

Cover  title  missing/ 

La  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartea  gtegraphiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encra  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  an  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relii  avec  d'autres  documents 


D 


D 


D 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distc«:ion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serrie  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distorsion  la  long  de  la  marge  intAriaure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certainas  pages  blanches  aiouties 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaiasent  dans  la  texte. 
mais.  lorsque  cela  itait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  4t«  film^as. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplAmentaires; 


L'Institut  a  microfilm*  la  meilleur  exempiaire 
qu'il  lui  a  iti  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exempiaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique.  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dana  la  mithoda  normaie  de  filmage 
sont  indiqute  ci-dessous. 


r~|   Coloured  pages/ 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagies 


n   Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurias  et/ou  pellicul^es 

FyKPages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
L^    Pages  dicolortes,  tacheties  ou  piqudes 

I     Y  Pages  detached/ 


Pages  ditachies 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Quaiit*  inigale  de  I'impression 

includes  supplementary  matarii 
Comprend  du  metAriel  suppldmentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Mition  disponibie 


rn  Showthrough/ 

rn  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

rn  includes  supplementary  material/ 

I — I  Only  edition  available/ 


D 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc..  have  been  reillmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Las  pafies  totalement  ou  partieilement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure. 
etc..  ont  iti  filmi«s  A  nouveau  de  facon  i 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  de  rMuction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


7 


12X 


1«X 


20X 


26X 


30X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


Th«  copy  filmad  hara  haa  baan  raproducad  thanka 
to  tha  ganaroaity  of: 

Manuscript  Division 
Public  Archives  of  Canada 


L'axamplaira  film*  fut 
gin^roaitA  da: 


aprodult  grAca  A  la 


Division  des  manuscrits 
Archives  publiques  db  ^anada 


Tha  imagaa  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  baat  quality 
poaaibia  conaidaring  tha  condition  and  lagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  Icaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  apacificationa. 


Original  eopiaa  in  printad  papar  covara  ara  filmad 
baginning  with  tha  front  eovar  and  anding  on 
tha  laat  paga  with  a  printad  or  iiluatratad  impraa- 
sion,  or  tha  bacic  eovar  whan  appropriata.  All 
othar  original  eopiaa  ara  filmad  baginning  on  tha 
first  paga  with  a  printad  or  iiluatratad  impraa- 
sion,  and  anding  on  tha  laat  paga  with  a  printad 
or  iiluatratad  impresaion. 


Tha  laat  racordad  frama  on  aach  microficha 
shall  contain  tha  symbol  -<-^  (moaning  "CON- 
TINUED"^  or  tha  symbol  V  (maaning  "END"), 
witichavar  appiiaa. 

Mapa,  piataa,  charts,  ate.,  may  ba  filmad  at 
diff arant  raduction  ratioa.  Thoaa  too  iarga  to  ba 
anviraiy  includad  in  ona  axpoaura  ara  filmad 
baginning  in  tha  uppar  laft  hand  comar,  laft  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  aa  many  framaa  aa 
raquirad.  Tha  following  diagrama  iiiuatrata  tha 
mathod: 


Laa  imagaa  suivantaa  ont  M  raproduitaa  avae  la 
plua  grand  soin.  eompta  tanu  da  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattat*  da  l'axamplaira  film*,  at  w 
conformitA  avac  laa  conditiona  du  contrat  da 
flimaga. 

Laa  axamplairaa  originaux  dont  la  couvartura  en 
papiar  aat  imprim^  sont  filmte  on  commandant 
par  la  pramiar  plat  at  an  tarminant  soit  par  la 
darniira  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'impraaaion  ou  d'illuatration.  soit  par  la  sacond 
plat,  salon  la  caa.  Tous  laa  autros  axamplairaa 
originaux  sont  filmte  an  commandant  par  la 
pramiAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
dimpraaaion  ou  d'illuatration  at  9n  tarminant  par 
la  darniAra  paga  qui  comaorta  una  taila 
amprainta. 

Un  daa  symbolaa  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
damiAra  imaga  da  chaqua  misroficha.  salon  la 
caa:  la  symbols  — »  signifia  "A  SUIVRE",  la 
symboia  V  signifia  "FIN". 

I.aa  cartaa.  pianchaa.  tableaux,  ate.,  pauvant  ^trm 
fiim4a  A  daa  taux  da  reduction  diff^rants. 
Lorsqua  la  document  aat  trop  grand  pour  dtra 
roproduit  an  un  saul  clichA.  il  aat  film*  d  partir 
da  I'angia  supArieur  gauche,  da  gauche  i  droite, 
et  da  haut  en  baa,  en  prenant  la  ncmbre 
d'imagea  nteassaira.  Las  diagrammas  suivants 
illuatrant  la  m^thoda. 


1 

2 

3 

4 

S 

6 

[Printed  for  convpnipncc  of  rendinR,  nnd  not  for  circulation.] 


3>t 


Xatioxal  Hotel, 

Washw/jtoi)^  Januav^j  Ul.,  1851. 

To  tlie  Hon.  It.  M.  ^McLant^, 

OJi.ainnan  Com.  of  Commerce^  Iloum  P.ej)G. 

Sill :  1  avail  myself  of  your  kind  joermission  to  state 
tlie  grounds  on  Avhicli  tLe  passage  of  the  bill  which  has 
Le(iu  repeatedly  brought  under  the  consideration  of  Con- 
p:ress  for  estal)lis]iing  reciprocal  free  trade  in  certain  arti- 
cle.^, the  natural  jn'oducts  of  tlie  Tiiited  States  and  Can- 
ada, is  urg(id  by  the  hitter.  To  bring  the  subject  fairly 
under  consideration,  I  must  advei't  to  the  clianires  which 
liave  taken  place  within  the  hist  few  years  in  the  colonial 
])olicy  of  (ireat  Britain.  Tlie  old  policy  of  the  mother 
country  wjis  to  compel  the  colonies  by  means  of  heavy 
dilicrential  duties,  to  purchase  their  supplies  exclusively 
fro!>i  her.  The  trade  was  carried  on  in  British  bottoms, 
and  the  [products  of  the  colonies  were  admitted  into  the 
markets  of  tlie  mother  coimtry  on  more  advantageous 
terms  than  those  of  foreign  nations.  While  such  was  the 
commercial  policy  of  Great  Britain,  the  political  aifairs  of 
the  colonies  were  materially  influenced  by  the  Imperial 
Government,  the  local  Parliament  having  no  practical  con- 
trol over  the  administration  of  aftairs.  About  the  same 
l)eriod,  when,  owing  to  the  change  in  the  commercial  ])oli- 
cy  of  Great  Britain,  it  became  necessary  to  remove  all  re- 
strictions on  the  colonial  trade,  a  most  important  conces- 
sion Avas  made  to  the  North  American  Pi'ovinces  by  the 
introduction  of  a  system  of  government  under  which  the 
local  Parliaments  obtained  an  effective  control  over  their 
Governments.  The  consecpience  of  the  withdrawal  of  the 
jn-otection  formerly  enjoyed  by  the  colonies  has  been,  that 
they  have  been  left  to  buy  and  sell  in  the  markets  of  the 
world,  just  as  tlie  United  States,  or  any  other  foreign  na- 
tion.    Under  the  colonial  system,  the  differential  duties 


Tuvvers,  printer. 


vm 


were  so  onerous,  that  the  trade  between  the  United  Stat(^ 
and  Canada  M'ti-sof  the  most  limited  and  unini]»ortaiit  char- 
acter. In  1846,  the  Canadian  Legishitnre  liaving  T)een 
authorized  by  an  act  of  the  Imperial  Parliament  to  regu- 
late their  own  tariff,  and  being  anxious  to  cultivate  a  free 
commercial  intercourse  with  their  powerful  and  enterpris- 
ing neighbours,  removed  the  existing  differential  duties,  and 
admitted  American  manufactures,  and  foreign  goods  pur- 
chased in  the  American  markets,  on  the  same  terms  as  those 
from  Great  Britain.  Had  Canada  at  that  time  stipidated 
with  the  United  States,  that  in  return  for  hci*  admission  of 
Ameiican  manufiictures  the  duties  should  be  removed  from 
her  products,  it  would  obviously  have  been  the  interest  of 
the  United  States  to  have  agreed  to  such  an  jirrangement. 
No  such  proi)osition,  however,  wtis  made;  and  the  very 
important  concession  in  favor  of  the  I  aiited  Sttites  to  which 
I  have  advei'ted,  seems  scarcely  to  have  attracted  the  at- 
tention of  your  Federal  Gov(;rnment,  and  so  little  was  it 
understood  that  when  Gen.  Dix  urged  it  as  an  aigument 
in  favor  of  the  reciprocity  bill  in  the  Senate,  the  fact  was 
disputed.  Most  important  results,  however,  have  followed 
from  the  legislation  of  the  Canadian  Parliament.  Since 
1846,  the  manufactures  of  the  United  States,  the  teas, 
sugars,  fruits,  and  other  foreign  luxuries  purchased  by  the 
merchants  on  the  Atlantic  sea-board  with  the  j>roduce  of 
American  labor,  and  transported  to  that  sea-board  in  Ame- 
rican bottoms,  have  been  poured  into  Canada.  The  duties 
at  the  port  of  Toronto  have  increased  Avithin  a  few  years 
fi'om  about  $30,000  to  nearly  $400,000,  and  Hamilton, 
Kingston,  and  other  ports  contiguous  to  the  United  States 
would  show  a  similar  result.  This  increase  is  to  be  attri- 
buted mainly  to  the  American  trade  M'hich  litis  sprung  up 
since  the  removal  of  the  differential  duties,  and  which  I 
need  hardly  say  has  been  most  profitable  to  the  va- 
rious American  interests,  to  the  manufacturers,  the  ship 
owners,  the  railroads,  and  the  canals.     The  consequence 


» 


3  c  ^^ 


of  tliis  traclr',  lio'.revei-,  has  been  tliat  the  Canadians  have 
been  le<l  to  export  their  raw  i)ro(hicts  to  IIk;  same  markets 
from  wliicli  tliey  ]ia\e  drawn  tlieir  supplies.  Here  they 
are  met  l)y  a  lieavy  American  duty  on  their  staple  com- 
modities, luinl)er  and  breadstufts. 

As  I  havo  frequently  heard  it  asserted,  that  the  reoi- 
procity  asked  would  l)e  all  on  one  side,  and  that  the  Ameri- 
cans  are  not   exporters  to  Canada  of  any  of  the  articles 
named  in  the  bill,  permit  me  to  call  your  special  attention 
to  the  operation  of  the  present  tarift's  on  two  leading  arti- 
cles.    One  of  the  great  staples  of  the  AVesteru  States  is 
pork,  which  can  be  produced  there  at  such  rates  as  to  defy 
comjx-tition  in  Canada.     This  article  is  the  principal  food 
of  tlie  (,-anadian  lumberer,  and  lumber  is  the  ^jrincipal  Ca- 
nadian staple.     Canada  charges  a  duty  on  pork,  which 
swells  the  price  of  the  lumber  which  is  sent  to  the  mar- 
kets of  l^uffido,  Albany,  and  New  York.     Tbe  consequence 
is,  that  the  Eastern  consumer  of  lumber  actually  pays  the 
Canadian  duty  on  the  pork  furnished  by  the  Western 
States,  from  which  the  entire  supply  is  obtained  for  the 
lumbering  districts.     It  has  been  urged,  and  with  some 
phuisi})ility,  tliat  Canadian  products  being  similar  to  those 
of  tlie  T'uitcd  States,  would  meet  the  latter  on  e(pial  terms 
under  the  reciprocity  bill,  and  that  Western  wheat  growers 
would  be  injured  by  the  competition  of  Canadian  wheat. 
Assuming,  ibr  the  sake  of  argument,   in  order  to  meet 
objections  of  every  kind,  that  there  is  no  surplus  of  bread- 
stnits  in  the  United  States,  and  that  the  manufacturinir 
districts  of  your  country  and  the  Atlantic  cities  are  likely 
to  be  the  consumers  both  of  American  and  Canadian 
wheat,  I  am  yet  prepared  to  deny  the  soundness  of  the 
argument  drawn  from  that  fact  against  the  admission  of  the 
latter.     I  affirm  that  the  Canadian  trade  has  created,  and 
nmst  continue  to  create  an  increased  demand  for  breadstulfs 
(iuite  etjual  to  the  suppb^.     If  it  be  a  fact,  that  prior  to  the 
removal  of  the   differential   duties  against  the   United 


States,  Canadii  iiri])orte(l  isor  snijai-M  fVofi!  C(i])a  and  I'o'fo 
liico  tliToiio'li   the    St.    Lawieiioe    direcl    or    vi;!  ilalilax, 
her  teas  from  Cliina  direct  or  via  London,  aad  tlia^   slie 
consumed  Enidish  mannfactnres  almost  e.\clusive1v  +liert 
I  ^vonld   ask,  wlietlier   tlie   clian,fro  in   tiie  iv:]']i\  t)^\]^^J: 
to  Avliicli  Canada  is  now  largely  supplied  Avitli  these  com- 
modities by  Tnited  States  nnmntactnrers  and  tlie  merchants 
of  tlifc  Atlantic  cities,  mnst  not  have  increased  tlie  demraid 
for  food  in  the  United  States.     If  an  Oliio  farmer  Mere  to 
bring  a  tliousand  bushels  of  wheat  to  Xew  York  to  be  ex- 
changed for  groceries  and  dcjmestic  goods  ibr  hisconsimi]*- 
tion,  he  would  not  suffer  any  injury  from  tlu>  com])etitioi) 
of  a  Canadian  farmer  who  wanted  to  eifect  a  similar  ex- 
change;  on  the  contrary,  in  ])roportion  to  the  numljer  of 
such  exchanges  would  the  profits  of  the  merchants  and  f  )J-- 
warders  be  reduced,  a  large  trade  being  conducted  more 
economically  than  a  small  one.     I  am  i)ersuaded,  therefore, 
that  the  exchange  of  Canadian  agricultural  products  for 
domestic  manufactures,  sugar,  tea,   coifee,    tobacco,  fruits, 
<fec.,  so  far  from  being  injurious  to  the  interests  of  the  Wes- 
tern farmers  of  the  Unitetl  States  is  rather  calculated  to 
benefit  them  ;  and  I  am  inoreover  firmly  jx^'smided,  that 
should  the  Canadian  trade  be  forced  into  other  channels, 
as   seems   not  im])]'obable,  it   will  then   l)e  estimated  at 
its   true   value    by   the    people    of    the    United   States. 
Though  I  have  deemed  it  advisable  to  discuss  the  ques- 
tion as  if  the  United  States  had  no  surplus  of  l)readstufls 
to  exq^ort,  I  think  the  more  correct  assumption  would  l)e, 
that  for  many  years,  the  Western  wheat  growers  will  have 
to  compete  with  Canada  in  the  markets  of  the  world  on 
equal,  and  possibly  on  disadvantageous  terms.     A  refer- 
ence to  ofHcial  documents  will  prove  that  the  Provinces  of 
Nova  Scotia,  New  Brunswick,  Prince  Edward  Island,  and 
Newfoundland,  have  been   anionfr  the  best  customers  of 
the  United  States  for  breadstuff's.     In  those  provinces  there 
are  re\'enue  duties  on  flour,  var}'i.ng  from  25  cents  to  75 


3i.  /- 


cents  ])(']' liarrel.  AVillrin  tlic  last  ycv'irniTnntromonts  liavo 
1)0011  ofVtrtod  l)y  Canada  witli  tlirco  of  tlioso  provinces  lor 
a  live  inteivliaiii^e  of  tlioir  Jiatural  jtrodnctions  ;  jind  tlie 
oxpoi'ionoe  of  a  sinjjjlo  season  inducos  nio  to  l)olievo  that 
a  very  larp^  ti'ado  will  l^e  diverted  to  those  pvovinees 
from  the  Cit y  of  Xe\v  Yoi'k,  nnless  the  present  i-estrictions 
l)e  removed.  At  the  very  oiJening-  of  tlie  navigation  hist 
year,  a  stejimcr  v,as  chartei-ed  at  Toronto  to  take  a  e;irgo 
of  flonr  to  Halifax,  and  to  ])ring  hack  sngar,  molasses,  S:c. 
The  i)rotection  in  favor  of  Canada  tionr,  when  sent  l)y  the 
St,  Lawrence  to  Halifax,  St.  John's,  and  other  i)orts,  mnst 
divert  the  snpply  of  those  provinces  from  New  York,  to 
^Montreal  and  Quebec;  and  the  vessels  whicli take  the  i]om\ 
will  I»i'in2:  hack  snij^ar,  molasses,  and  and  other  foreii,ni  com- 
modities, which,  dnrini^'  the  last  few  years,  have  l)een  pur- 
chased in  the  New  York  markets.  Under  the  existing 
commercial  regulations,  therefore,  the  United  States  Avheat- 
growers  v.ill  have  to  coinpete  \\ith  the  Canadians  on  terms 
disadvantageous  to  the  former  in  a  market  which  is  next 
in  im]x>rtance  and  neai'ly  equal  to  Brazil.  In  tlie  other 
markets  of  tlie  Avorld  Ijotli  will  meet  on  an  eipial  footing. 
C'anada  Hour  is  at  this  time  competing  in  the  Xew  York 
market  \A'ith  that  of  the  Western  States  to  su[)i)ly  the 
foreign  dem;ind  which  regulates  the  price  of  the  article; 
and  it  would  ho  uijurious  to  American  interests  to  force 
the  trade  whicli  is  now  carried  on  with  the  Atlantic  cities 
into  the  channel  of  the  St.  Lawrence. 

It  is  assumed,  and  as  perliaps  it  may  turn  out  unfortu- 
nately assumed,  hy  the  opponents  of  the  reciprocity  l)ill, 
that,  in  the  event  of  the  l)ill  1  )eing  rejected  hy  the  Ameri- 
can Congress,  Canada  will  maintain  her  present  commercial 
policy  and  continue  to  foster  the  import  trade  from  the 
United  States. 

It  is  very  desirable  that  you  should  he  fully  aware  of  the 
state  of  public  opinion  in  Canada  on  this  question.  Hav- 
ing myself  been  a  strong  ad\'ocate  for  free  commercial  in- 


1(M'*'«)nrs(>  witli  iho  United  Statos,  Miid  linvinpc  li<'i<l,  in  my 
position  as  linance  minister,  to  resist  in  Parliamerit,  the  ad- 
vocates era  restrictive  policy,  I  am  tlioronii'lily  ac(iuaint('d 
witli  tlu^  views  of*  all  ])arties.  I  have  no  hesitation  in  stat- 
inp^  that  the  advocates  of  a  retaliatory  policy  are  i'aj)idly 
irnininfT  urround.  Whether  all  or  any  of  the  ])lans  snij'- 
chested,  will  he  carried  ont,  it  is  of  conrse  ini])ossil>le  forme 
to  say,  hnt  it  is  certainly  hia'hly  desiralile  that,  in  ai'riving 
at  a  very  impoi'tant  <lecision,  you  should  he  fully  aware  of 
the  i)rol)al>le  consequences.  Th'^  re-imposition  of  the  difl'e- 
rential  duties  against  the  United  States  manufactures,  lias 
heen  stromal v  uri!'ed.  Such  a  measui'e  would  he  most  ac- 
ce])tal)le  to  the  connuercial  interests  of  ]\rontreal  and 
(,)nel)ec,  whose  trade  was  sei'iously  injured  hy  their  re])eal. 
At  the  close  of  the  last  session  of  our  Parliament,  an  influ- 
ential member  of  the  oppo.-ition,  a  gentleman  who  held 
uii(h'r  a  former  administration  the  office  which  I  have  now 
the  honor  to  fill,  o-avo  notice;  of  his  intention  to  introduce 
a  l)ill  during  the  next  session,  to  re-impose  t'^ese  duties. 
Leading  organs  of  the  opposition  have  strongly  advocated 
such  a  measui'e,  and  no  doul)t  can  he  entertained  that  it 
will  engage  the  consideration  of  our  Parliament  at  an  early 
dav.  Should  it  he  ad()i)ted,  the  United  States  would  have 
no  just  cause  of  complaint.  They  never  invited  Canada 
to  repeal  the  difi'creiiti;d  duties,  and  their  rejection  of  the 
reci])rocity  bill  vrould  of  course  l)e  looked  upon  as  a  de- 
li])erate  rejection  of  t'le  Canada  trade.  In  England  the  re- 
imposition  of  differential  duties  l)y  Canada  would  be  viewed 
most  fiivorably,  and  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  ef- 
fect would,  be  to  stimulate  the  efforts  of  those  who  are 
seeking  to  obtain  some  modification  of  the  present  corn 
laws.  Another  measure  or  retaliation  which  is  begin- 
ning to  engage  attention  in  Canada,  is  the  closing  up 
of  all  the  canals  to  American  vessels.  Should  this  policy 
be  adopted,  a  most  seriems  injury  would  be  inflicte<l  on 
the  trade  of  Chicago,  Cleveland,  and   other  lake   ports, 


3C  2- 


OsAvoffo,  Oiv(l('nsl)nr£?li,  and  tlic  Xo\r  Kiif^liind  Kailrniul  iu- 
tc'ivst,  liiH-iiu.^tou,  Whitehall,  Jind  tlie  New  York  iiorthi-vu 
canal.  The  Cuiiadiau  revenue  derived  iVoni  tolk  would  of 
coiir!>e  sutler,  Init  as  that  tbruis  an  insignilicant  ])ortiou  of 
the  resources  of  the  provhice,  the  loss  would  cause  no  in- 
convenience. It  is  contended  l)y  the  advocates  for  this 
policy,  that  the  Western  products  which  now  find  their  way 
l)v  Oswego  and  Oirdensburdi,  to  New  York  and  Boston, 
and  carried  in  American  bottoms  vrould  he  diverted  to  the 
St.  Lawrence,  and  that  the  entire  inland  tra<le  would  he 
In  British  Iwttoms.  It  is  aiiirnied  that  the  tonnage  of 
Canada,  with  Avhat  could  he  spared  from  Nova  Scotia  and 
New  Brunswick,  would  very  soon  be  sutHcient  for  the  in- 
creased trade.  I  have  stated  the  views  Avhich  are  enter- 
tained very  extensively  l)y  influential  i)arties  in  (Janada  as 
to  her  future  commercial  policy  in  the  e\'ent  of  the  rejec- 
tion of  the  reciprocity  l)ill  l^y  Congress. 

I  am,  however,  unauthorized  to  announce  the  views  of 
the  Canadian  Government;  hideed  its  policy  lias  not  yet 
been  determined  on.  Since  the  accession  of  the  i)resent 
Administration  to  office  in  1S48,  they  have  been  watch- 
ing with  anxiety  the  proceedings  in  Congress  regarding 
the  reciprocity  bill ;  and  ray  ol)j-ct  in  visiting  Washing- 
ton at  this  time  was  to  ascertain,  if  possilde,  the  probable 
fate  of  that  measure,  as  the  Government  must  be  prepared 
at  the  approaching  session  to  meet  Parliament  with  a  de- 
fined ])olicy  regarding  our  commercial  relations  with  the 
United  States. 

Although  I  have  probahly  alread}'  exhausted  youi'  pa- 
tience, I  nnist  make  a  remark  or  two  on  the  importance  to 
the  United  States  of  the  free  navigation  of  the  St.  Law- 
rence. It  has  been  affirmed  by  the  opponents  of  the 
Eeciprocity  Bill,  that  inasmuch  as  a  considerable  quan- 
tity rf  Canada  flour  is  sent  by  the  Oswego  and  Og- 
densl)urgli  routes,  the  St.  Lawrence  route  must  be  much 
inferior.     I  believe  on  the  other  hand,  that  the  increasing 


■s 


ti'ai'.i!  ;.r  til;'  \\\"l  \,\\]  :t\]'nV'\  hii.liic-;^  ("or  all  :!i'.'  ;iiaiin<'is 

\\\\\r]     Miv,    ]i!;,.]y    (.,   I,(.    opci;,.,!    f<.  it',    aihl     it    <\[Vr\y    >',uuli} 

itr  all  iMiiM'ii-.;'  a.ixaiila;:  •  hol'i  i.>  tli.-  r.iiijiiiiav;  and  aiii'i- 
'■iiliiira!  ::it;'r(-'l-;  tu'tlic  W't-t  lo  In-  a.'.l  »\vc,l  1<.  [.aiiicipatc 
III  riii'iii-liiii;.-;  .supplies  t(i  rli-  ;^'iT;'.t  d'-poUoi"  the  lishJiiL;- 
{■!■;!'■''.  'I"!i<'  \■(•■■-•<■l.■^  (til  ll;.'  W'rstcrif  lalu'<  cii-a^cii  in  tlti; 
(•(iiiiiiicrcc,  and  wliicji  a'c  now  Id.lc  dni-iiiLi-  tii;-  winter 
niontlis  would  (.l.ta'ii  a  '>ha!.;  of  the  AVe>t  liiflia  l!';ide  lo, 
vvliii  h  tliey  a'.e  well  -;nilcd„ 

I  iii;;y  ^i.-ite  a  l;;et  (»!'  two  l)eai  in-'  on  tin'  inij  dilanec  ol'tlie 
>'i.  i.awreiK.:  •  n:iVi..:.!tio.i.  !!,  ^teaied  aj;i'l:ial",  »!;•  |it\('!)<en 
made  to  tJie  Canadian  (iovi  iMiiiU'nt  dui'Ini';  (he  iast  two 
years  i>y  pai  ti"s  in  iMiiialo,  (  ie\cland,  and  Cliiea;;o,  toi-per- 
ini.-sion  to  ]»ass  \-e>se!.  throu_ii  tlie  St.  Lawrence,  w  hieh  it 
Ine;  heen  con-trainedL  iiinh  r  existiiiir  >ire;ini>ianees  to  refusi'. 
Speeial  p'er!ni>r-ioii,  liowcv.-i',  was  i^r.-fii  ji;  two  e.-iM-,  one  to 
a  \-e--<l  to  ca.rry  a  eai'go  of  .-oppei'  ort-  iVuni  Jiake  Huron 
t(.  Swansea,  in  Wales;  thcother  to  a  ve-.-^el  lioitnd  to  C'ali- 
foi-nia  wIlli  <'niiL';v:ints.  i>e>i(h'- tliei-eoasesthe  (io\ ci-nineiit 
oi'  tlie  I'liitedStat/s  made  a])pli(.ation  for  ]>ei  ini.-sion  to 
send  TWO  war  steainei's  tliroiiuli  the  ('anadia.n  eaaials  and 
St.  Lawrence  to  the  .\tjaiitir,  wliieli    w;is  at   once  -'ranted, 

IL'.vlmr  now  pre-ented  yon  \\''A]\  my  \ie\\s  on  this  im- 
portant ({ue-tion,  I  have  only  in  conclusion  to  express  mv 
warm  aclviutwlediLiments  to  you  for  h;i\inL;'  kiiidl\-  permit- 
ted me  to  do  so,  ami  for  the  patient  consideration  whicli,as 
Chairman  of  the  Commiltee  of  Commerce  in  t!ie  n<»rise  of 
]we}>re.sentati\\'s,  vai  have  pai<l  to  the  subject. 

I  ha'.c  i]\o  hoiK.i-  to  I'emain,  sir, 

Yiniv  jiiovt  ohodient  hum1)le  servant. 


F.  IIIXCKS, 

.Lh^2^ccfor  (Itntral  of  t\nuuJa. 


